Photographic retoucher



(No Model.)

S. G. BRADFORD.

PHOTOGRAPHIU RETOUGHER.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SAMUEL G. BRADFORD, O1 BENTOX HARBOR, MIClllGAN.

PHOTOGRAPHIC RETOUCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,642, dated November17', 1896.

Application filed May 21, 1895. Serial No. 550,114. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. BRADFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ben ton Harbor, in the county of Berrien and State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Photographic Retouching-Tool,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in photographicretouching-tools.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficientdevice for retouching aphotographic negative for the purpose of removingany objectionable high light, said tool to be used either for thepurpose of grinding the negative 01' for stipplin g the gelatin film.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallythrowing the device out of operation when required.

To accomplish the objects above mentioned, the invention consists incertain novel features and details of construction and arrangement ofparts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, andfinally embodied in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of aretouching-tool constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe actuating-wheel. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7show different forms ofgrinding and stippling instruments adapted to be applied to the shaft ofthe tool.

Similar numerals of reference designate cor responding parts in theseveral. figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the handle of the device, whichis in the form of a hollow sleeve or tube, upon one end of which issecured an annular hollow case or housing 2, in which is mounted a wheel3, keyed to one end of a shaft 41, extending through the tubular handle1 and beyond the end thereof, as shown. The wheel 3 is provided with aseries of thin wide blades 5, extending from the hub thereof radiallyand reaching nearly to the internal periphery of the case or housing inwhich said wheel is mounted. The wheel 3 is thus adapted to be propelledby a current of air, which is admitted through a perforated nozzle 6,connected with the periphery of the case or housing 2 and arrangedtangentially thereto.

7 indicates an outlet passage or aperture arranged at the opposite sideof the ease or housing 2, through which said current of air finds vent.

The inner face of the wheel. 3 is provided with a series of inclinednotches 8, arranged in a circle around the central shaft a, said notchesbeing adapted as the wheel is revolved to cooperate with theinwardly-prejecting point of a set-screw 9 for the purpose of impartinga rapid reciprocating movement to the shaft a. The setscrew 9 passesthrough the wall of the case or housing 2, adjacent to the inner face ofthe wheel 3, and by adjusting said set-screw the distance which saidshaft reciprocates may be regulated at will. The rear end of the shaft 4projects through a central perforation in the rear wall of the housing,and a leaf-spring 10, secured to said rear wall at one end, presses withits free end against said shaft for throwing the same forward after ithas been acted upon by each inclined notch on the inner face of theactuat ing-wheel.

A rubber tube 11 is attached at one end to the air-inlet nozzle 5referred to, whence it passes through suitable eyes or loops 12,attached to the handle of the device, as shown, after which said tubeextends to and connects with a suitable reservoir or air-pump operatedby foot-power, thus adapting the shaft 2 to be driven by compressed air.

13 indicates an automatic cutoff, which is in the form of a lever,pivoted intermediate its ends to the tool-handle, as shown, one end ofsaid lever being adapted to restin forcible engagement with the flexibleair-tube 11 and the opposite end of said lever being supported by meansof a spiral spring 14k, interposed between the same and the handle ofthe device. The tension of the spring 1% is sufficient to press theopposite end of said lever into ongagement with the flexible air-tube 11to such an extent as to compress the latter and close the air-passagetherein, thereby normally preventing the passage of the air to theactuating-wheel. \Yhen it is desired to admit air to said wheel fordriving the shaft 4, the cut-off lever may be operated by the index orother finger of the operators hand as he uses the instrument. Should theoperator desire to stop the shaft 2,'he simply releases the cut-offlever, when the latter will automatieally pinch and close the air tube.

The advance end of the operating-shaft is made hollow and split to formopposing springjaws 15, between which any one of a series of grinding orstippling tools may be inserted. \Vhen so inserted, said tools are heldagainst displacement by means of a sliding collar or sleeve 16, formingin effect a small chuck adapted to grasp and hold said tools orinstruments.

17 indicates one of the instruments, which is shown applied to thereciprocating shaft and is in the form of a shouldered steel point,particularly adapted for the removal of any high light in a negative,such as the small specks in the shadows, said instrument being adaptedto be used in connection with a reciprocating shaft. This instrument isshown in detail in Fig. '7.

18 represents an instrument for partially or wholly removing anyobjectionable high light in a negative, this instrument being preferablymade of brass or other metal and covered with leather or silk or anyother suitable fabric, said instrument being in the form of a diskhaving a tapered edge and being adapted to be used in connection with arevolving shaft, to which condition the shaft 2 may be adjusted byremoving the set-screw 9 or withdrawing it sufficiently to throw it outof engagement with the notches in the actuating-wheel. The disk of theinstrument 18 may also be composed of emery and left uncovered, ifdesired. This instrument is shown in detail in Fig. 4:,

19 designates an instrument for grinding a photographic negative for thepurpose of forming a tooth adapting the film to readily take a lead,said instrument being tipped with leather on the forward face of the enddisk, as shown in Fig. 5.

20 is an instrument for totally removing any high light and for blockingout negatives, said instrument comprising a conical end having aserrated operating-face or file-like surface, as shown in Fig. 0.

Other instruments may be employed in connection with the retouching-toolabove described.

By the construction above described it will be apparent that theretouching-tool contemplated in this invention may be adjusted so thatthe actuating-shaft will simply revolve for the purpose of grinding anegative or reciprocate for stippling the film.

The device is very simple in construction, not liable to get out oforder, and will be found very convenient and eflicient in practice. Itwillbe apparent that various changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

111 a photographic retouching-tool, a tubular handle, and a cylindricalcase or housing carried thereby, in combination with an.opcrating-shaft, a wind-motor wheel fast upon said shaft and arrangedwithin said cylindrical case or housing, a nozzle connected with saidcase or housing, a flexible air-tube connected therewith, eyes or loopsattached to the handle and embracing said flexible airtube, and anautomatic spring-actuated cutoff for pinching said flexible air tube andclosing the air-passage therein, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL G. BRADFORD.

Vitn esses:

A. PLUMMER, Gno. W. BRIDGMAN.

